We can’t afford to do what every other country did years ago for our railways, but people need to drive their kids to school in a tank

Mosques set on fire, shot at with air guns, and smashed with paving slabs. Just the latest examples of the real world consequences of the political mainstreaming of racism www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...

I havent read such a banger of an essay in a very long time. This is so well-written!

Yes and yet several European countries are embracing a far-right worldview that would burn these policies to the ground, so let’s be not be smug or complacent here - particularly as Mamdani‘s pro-immigration stance is radical by European standards.

Poet Liz Berry returns to a now empty building that she has a close personal link with - Selly Oak Library in Birmingham. Liz is back outside the building, to write a poem about the library's recent demise www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Lough Neagh bathing spot fails to meet minimum water standards www.bbc.com/news/article...

Long tails and important outcomes. Finally, it's live - the website for the report, "Conversion Therapy' and the University of Birmingham c.1966-1983'! There's material about the history, the project, its organisation, and there are resources there too. #HistPsych #HistSTEM #QueerHist #HistSex

In air pollution hotspots in England & Wales, half the population are people of colour, 48% are on the lowest incomes, and 60% don’t drive Pollution is being unfairly imposed on them, principally by those who drive through their area www.theguardian.com/environment/...

This will be a huge benefit to the suburbs of Bournville, Weoley, and Northfield, creating a safe alternative for many of the @unibirmingham.bsky.social (south Brum's largest employer) staff who live along this corridor.

Why did the British army have an artist with them in Northern Ireland? Art created by Ken Howard during the Troubles shows the power of images to control the conflict narrative and conceal the reality of war, writes Clare Carolin @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

This is such generic old-conservative-guy talk -- like this could be any letter to the editor in any midsize paper, from the local crank who thinks kids these days aren't grateful enough.

One of two new vacancies at the Quill Project. www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/writ...

We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Manchán Magan. A remarkable writer and broadcaster, his reflections on language, place, and identity captured so much of Ireland’s spirit. It was a privilege to feature Manchán on the ARINS My Identity Podcast earlier this year. Listen: bit.ly/4gTZ0JI

Our latest “Document of the Week” was chosen by our Senior Editor, Dr Tommy Dolan. Tommy takes a closer look at “Northern Ireland Observed”. Published in the 1980s, it sought to educate readers on the many positives of everyday life there. Read the full article here: buff.ly/63lmUfi

‘Olives are everything for us’: West Bank farmers prevented from harvesting by settler violence

Often overlooked, small water bodies - streams, damp ditches, small bogs, ponds - support more rare species compared with larger habitats while high-quality ponds support about 2/3 of all freshwater plant + animal species in a landscape. 🧵 1/4 freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/start-w...

I hope it is now obvious why pillars of democracy like universities, the law, public broadcasting should be funded so that they are beyond the reach of financial coercion by hostile agents.

Geography in the service of the imperial state: Putin speaking at the Russian Geographical Society emphasising the political utility of mapping and geographical knowledge

👇🏼

It's not a grassroots working class movement. "Wherever we looked for prominent flaggers and leaders of this movement, we found people smugglers and sex doll salesmen, people with dubious criminal pasts and people willing to put in a good word for Adolf Hitler." manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...

Some great reporting from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social and partners here.

Interesting piece by @joshgd100.bsky.social on disputes over Birmingham’s available reserves and whether it has cut back harder than it needed to www.ft.com/content/9045...

That's why there's no progressive or feminist case for raising birth rates b/c the means to do so invariably end up being awful. Sure, there's a progressive or feminist case for valuing caretaking, building a social safety net, etc., & doing so may* raise birth rates, but that can't be the driver.

It's worth adding that while the hack of 2+ years ago has been dreadful for British Library users, it is also been awful for BL staff, who cannot fulfil readers' requests and are then confronted by their consequent frustration. With no end in sight.

Alliance gained votes when it captured the mood of the middle ground with Brexit, the Assembly collapsing etc. Now the Assembly is back it needs to define itself again. The public are pissed at the Executive.

Minister apologises to farmers and vows to 'fix' Lough Neagh issues www.bbc.com/news/article...

Yet another election where a noisy online minority against LTNs doesn’t translate to the ballot box. The three candidates campaigning explicitly to halt and remove the LTN in the Moseley by-election received a combined total of just 11.4% of the vote.

“This letter gets right to the heart of debates about children’s right to play and their right to the street. It ignores the fact that cars have encroached onto streets, which had previously been regarded as social spaces, not the other way round”.

At some point it has to become clear that this tech exists is to create a more toxic society and enrich its owners. These uses are not aberrations but rather the entire purpose.

In 1968, against the backdrop of the Race Relations Act and Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech, local Birmingham groups campaigned against racism and in support of civil rights The archives of activist Margaret Stanton capture some of the grassroots activities mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/MSP/...

Don’t cross a picket line, folks. I know it’s super difficult and inconvenient so let’s hopes resolution can be agreed and planned action called off

efficiency. The amount of work that goes into applying to these grants is insane -- the academics writing it, the academic colleagues commenting, the Professional Service teams finetuning and sorting out all the costings etc. Surely that time could be used more efficiently *for actual research*?

How can Lough Neagh's blue-green algae problem be solved? www.bbc.com/news/article...

A pleasure to be up in Stormont earlier to present our final report on Environmental Governance in Northern Ireland 👇 More independence, more powers, and greater transparency and accountability all needed to improve governance and the environment for all. www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/indepen...

Those beads are people. Families. Friends. Neighbours. Children. Doctors and nurses. Teachers and carers. Millions of them.

Stormont has been declared a "crime scene" over the ongoing environmental crisis at Lough Neagh

Lough Neagh and its problems - as told by the people who use it every day www.bbc.com/news/article...

That's three issues in a short row- Lough Neagh, Active Travel and now Energy - where the NI Executive's performance on key environmental issues is failing. Radical change required. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Agree that this statement from Carns is welcome, but it would be better still if it actually named those responsible.

Louvre Thieves Given Immunity After Confirming Jewels Stolen For Purpose Of Training AI Software https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/louvre-thieves-given-immunity-after-confirming-jewels-stolen-for-purpose-of-training-ai-software/

Generative AI presents a huge challenge to democratic politics in creation of disinformation - but there also needs to be focus on the platforms that enable and encourage the spread of this disinformation. Politicians should condemn disinformation in all its forms.

Today, Stirchley residents put on a family event, with music and chalk for kids, to show we can celebrate our city. The community came together to say we will not allow our nations' flags to be used to divide us or intimidate our neighbours. I'm incredibly proud to be born and raised in Stirchley ❤️‍🔥

Frogs against fascism 🐸 Standing tall against the far right in Stirchley ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿

Quite curious to see how they try to spin this event because Stirchley absolutely *showed up*: a hundred people of all ages, races, every demographic. The flag guys were a dozen mostly middle aged white men. Not sure how they could've turned a display of neighbourhood solidarity into something bad.

Show up for Stirchley.

“Now Scientific American has updated and re-released what it calls the “classic graphic” that shows that a human on a bicycle—able to coast, or freewheel, without pedaling—remains the world’s most energy effecient traveler.” @carltonreid.com on the re-release of the iconic graph in @forbes.com.

As yes British football in the 1980s. Well known for its good-natured fun. He's a ridiculous person.

We are delighted to announce that MBS2026 will be held at the University of Birmingham, 3-5 June 2026! Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies. For any questions please contact [email protected]

Brown's rejection of the compact would not have been possible without the amazing mobilization of faculty, students and staff last week! When we fight, we win!! Score this as another victory for workers and students! @aaup.org

This is not at all the most important thing about this article (and the really important campaign) but it is making me smile that my grumpy old greyhound's nemesis dog is in this photograph.